Now it can be told: In 2013 Sen. Osmeña wanted to package Grace Poe, Leni Robredo & Risa Hontiveros as the “Tres Marias”

By Raïssa Robles

Some people might get the impression that Sen. Serge Osmeña is just shooting his mouth off talking about the various presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Earlier, he had advised Senator Grace Poe to run for VP. Then he said that Congresswoman Leni Robredo could win hands down over Senator Chiz Escudero in the VP race if she was “packaged properly.”

What Sen. Serge Osmeña has forgotten to explain is his context for saying all these. Some people are actually thinking he is now siding with the administration bets because his son is marrying into the Roxas family.

Sen. Osmeña ‘s context is actually this – in the 2013 senatorial race, he came up with what he thought was a winning electoral combination: a package of three women whom he would brand the “Tres Marias” – Grace Poe, Leni Robredo and Risa Hontiveros. The way commercial advertisers package products.

Problem was, Leni Robredo refused to play ball. She didn’t want to run for the Senate.

And so Osmeña ended up with only two of the women – Poe and Hontiveros – and he added one male candidate – Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr.

Of the three, only Poe won.

I learned this from someone who was talking to one of the parties, whom I can’t identify.

Seen from this context, Senator Poe’s rejection of Senator Serge’s suggestion that she run first for vice-president comes across as ungrateful. Ingratitude, however, is a hallmark of Philippine politics.

I’ve never met Sen. Serge nor ever interviewed him, but his is one voice I listen to when it comes to political strategy. He is a political animal who straddles the old and the new way of political campaigning.

Mrs. Robredo doesn’t know it yet but she has the power. She still has to wake up to that power, accept it and wield it. But I can sense that she does like politics. Otherwise, she would not have run at all. She would have just become a judge.

I have never met her, only talked to her on the phone for an interview. Her late husband, Jesse Robredo never ever introduced me to her or the rest of the family even when I went all the way to Naga to interview him. But I sensed in my interviews with him that he consulted her on legal matters. That their conversations were wide-ranging.

One thing for sure, both Robredo and Poe are definitely more qualified and capable than Vice-President Noli de Castro, who apparently rose to power on the basis of his newscaster’s voice. Recall how he became the insurance for then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to survive ouster. To read more, pls see Alan’s article – Gloria’s not-so secret weapon.

Compared to former Vice-President Noli de Castro, Robredo and for that matter Senator Grace Poe are more prepared for the vice-presidency. However, it is not yet clear if both are prepared for the presidency itself, should something happen to the president. Which is what the vice-presidency is really all about.

Robredo’s appeal is that she comes across as very sincere. What you see is what you get. She has no political baggage. I like the fact that she gave herself enough time to grieve and make a life without her husband.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

So why did Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel lose again in 2013?

I think next time around she should lose that sash – so old-fashioned and corny.

And using Philhealth ads is quite tricky and smacks of e-pal.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

I really like University of the Philippines law professor Harry Roque. He was my dad’s law student. He has been a constant news source, always generous with his opinions and his time. But I really do think he would be throwing away whatever budding political career he has under the bus if he runs in Vice-President Binay’s Senate slate.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

I have been asked for a list of candidates for the Senate. Offhand, I would have liked to see Albay Governor Joey Salceda. Moro Islamic Liberation Front spokesman Mohagher Iqbal and Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison (too bad, he doesn’t have residency). It would be interesting to see what kind of laws they would propose and how they would wield the powers of a senator.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

I would like to see Sen. Vicente “Copy” Sotto retire from the Senate. Here’s why.

In search of Binay’s running mate

by Alan Robles

Deep in the dark heart of the political jungle, skilled professionals are engaged in an important quest: hunting and bagging that elusive creature, a running mate for Vice President Binay.

Let’s talk to one of those agents, Gnoll Tahol, CEO and Droolmaster of the Showbeast Government Headhunting Troll Tribe and Carinderia Services Inc

Hot Manila: How’s the hunting?

Gnoll Tahol: Tough, really tough. Every time we find a possible candidate, we creep up to them, tell them to stay calm because we have a big surprise. Then we tell them we’re considering them as a companion for Vice President Binay to run…

Hot Manila: And?

Tahol: They run, all right. They run away. Very fast. Sometimes they’re screaming. One even yelled “Bahid ng kurakot! Takbo mga kapatid!” Can you imagine? Isn’t it supposed to be an honor to be chosen to be a running mate for the vice president?

Women who have lost their sex drive will have a little pink pill to help them come October. On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved flibanserin, which will be sold as ADDYI, for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in premenopausal women.

Viagra for men treats erectile dysfunction and doesn’t induce sexual desire. Addyi works on the central nervous system, which is why it’s in the same category as an antidepressant. In clinical trials, women taking the drug experienced a 37% increase in sexual desire, according to Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which makes the drug.

In due time, gallivanting men would say ” why stay out late – I have more than I can handle at home”

– Disqualification (DQ) cases filed by R David both with SET and Comelec.

– After the first complaint was filed with SET she said that she was glad the complaint was filed with the SET because she is now given the opportunity to explain and settle this once and for all. She said she can explain the DQ issue legally and have documents to show that the DQ case has no legal leg to stand on.

– But after the complaint was filed with Comelec, her anxiety grew. She has gone into the sad spectacle of saying in effect that David could not have brought the case unless there were people behind him. So what? Does the issue evaporate because it is not David who is putting up the filing bill but someone else? Sad to say, she is acting much like Binay who is accusing people like Trillanes behind Bondal and Enciso’s charges against him.

Grace Poe’s earlier equanimity is lost. For logically, if she can explain the complaint before the SET, with her documents she can explain the same complaint brought before Comelec. In fact, if the same complaint is brought before any authority X, Y, Z with jurisdiction she can similarly explain.

Two plus two is four whether brought before the SET, Comelec, X, Y, or Z. To complain about the people behind David is showing her great anxiety best not displayed by her. People will now compare her with Binay. The parallel behavior cannot be lost on those observing her.

The DQ case before the SET would only deprive Poe of her job as senator, while the criminal charges before the COMELEC would deprive Poe of her liberty. Thus, her loss of equanimity, feeling of anxiety, acquisition of a persecution complex and hallucination of a demolition job.

Just recently Poe misrepresented herself as a Filipino citizen by birth when she applied for a Philippine passport in 2014. That she submitted her substitute or adoption birth certificate as primary document which shows that she was born to a Filipino citizen – Susan. I think Poe never submitted her judicial decree of adoption as well as her foundling certificate which would prove that she was not born to Susan.

Meaning that Poe falsified her application for passport by declaring under oath that she was a Filipino by birth and that she was born to Susan. Another criminal charge is in order this time before the DOJ.

How about that instance when Poe declared under oath in 2006 before the consular or immigration officials that she was a Filipino by birth? And Poe again submitted her substitute birth certificate showing that she was born to Susan. Poe must be a natural born FC to qualify as dual citizen. Otherwise, she must apply for naturalization to become a Filipino citizen. Another criminal charge for falsification of public document is again in order against Poe.

In 1988 Poe went to US to study. Of course she was issued Philippine passport to enable her to travel. This must be the first time that she falsified her application for a passport by declaring under oath that she was born to Susan. Another criminal offense.

rene-ipil, it must really be in the blood. makoy also falsified his medal of valors. baby girl can do whatever she likes then, makoy was alive and can punish anyone that make baby girl’s life hard. now that makoy is dead, baby girl lost her knight in white satin, left with the lies she has told before and cannot undo them.

moonie, she could as well be, Bongbong Marcos has also issues about his Diplomas or Educational Credentials from England. His sister Imee, i heard didn’t finish her Bachelor of Law degree at UP. Quite a pattern i would say.

Pelang, Poe really applied for a Phil passport in 2014 and 1988 or thereabout. The application form for passport must state under oath whether one acquired Philippine citizenship by birth, naturalization, marriage, election or RA 9225. Also name of mother and father and their citizenship. Primary document needed is the Birth Certificate (BC). In the case of adoptee Poe, hers is only a substitute BC because she had only a foundling certificate – not an original BC for non-foundling.

Likewise, Poe really applied for reacquisition of Philippine citizenship in 2006. As in the application for a passport, the application for reacquisition of being an NBFC under RA 9225 must also state under oath how Poe acquired her being an NBFC. Also the name of mother and father and their citizenship DURING Poe’s birth. Meaning that Susan must be a Filipino citizen in September 1968 when Poe was born – not when Poe was adopted about six years later.

It was entirely possible that Susan or any other adoptive parent of Poe could be foreigners in 1968 but became naturalized filipino citizen in 1969. Primary document required was a Birth certificate (BC) as proof of being an NBFC. Of course Poe submitted her only BC that was the substitute or adoption BC which, on its face, made Poe an NBFC although her adoptive parents were still foreigners in 1968 when Poe was born. Meaning that the submission of the BC was meant only for those who were born to Filipino parents.

If foundlings like Poe are NBFC according to international law, convention or custom, the documentary requirement would be an FC (foundling certificate) regardless whether same foundlings were adopted or not by a Filipino citizen like Susan. Because foundlings do not have an original BC but rather a substitute BC by judicial decree.

Grace knows that she was engineered to enter Philippine politics probably by Escudero/NOYBI faction. Now that P-NOY and BINAY split on separate ways, we have these different issues coming out because their initial plan is driven to another direction by Escudero.

Roxas may have been sideline here, though P-NOY maybe involved. Roxas only demonstrated the qualities of a good follower under a higher authority being in-charge. We have this popular saying:

“In order to become an effective leader, one must start as good follower”.-Jesus Christ

Sooner or later, Grace will be an afterthought in Philippine politics. It is just a matter of time she will be exposed who she really is – an overly ambitious political novice who relies heavily on the political skullduggery and machination of an equally ambitious colleague named Chiz.

Unfortunately, some truths hurt. Some will put salt on open wound. And had this happened in Indonesia, some will probably end up on firing squad for treason. Then there’s tarnished reputations and political deaths (though I wouldn’t be surprised if some gets pissed enough to exact revenge).

Juan wonder if Grace even applied to be a Filipino citizen since she claimed “iyun lang ang ginawa ko”? = Renouncing her US citizenship doesn’t automatically hand her the Filipino citizenship, much more if she is not a certified natural born Filipino citizen. If she did applied, maybe she need to elaborate her statements on the details.

Then on her 2nd statement, Every OFW knows that dual citizenship is not the only way. If one is really loving the country(Phils.) and its people, “Permanent Residency” is the better option although it is a notch lower that citizenship, it allows you to stay in other countries without losing your Filipino identity.

These prove that Grace Poe is “ALL FOR CONVENIENCE” in all her positions and it explains her actions and what we are seeing today from her.

Defeated 2013 senatorial candidate Rizalito David on Monday accused Sen. Grace Poe anew of distorting facts in her certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections (Comelec)

David filed a case against Poe for material representation, claiming the senator failed to satisfy the two-year residency requirement for senatorial candidates

David cited United States government records indicating that Poe, whose full married name is Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares, lost her US citizenship in 2012. Poe then ran for senator in 2013, earning the most vote in senatorial race.

Earlier, Poe said the petition filed before the Senate Electoral Tribunal is an opportunity to address issues on her citizenship and residency.

“I assure the 20 million fellow Filipinos who voted for me, as well as the rest of the country, that their confidence in me is not misplaced.” Poe said in a statement. “I remain truthful to our countrymen. I am a Filipino by birth, abode and choice.”

I think 6.1.1.1.3 as a stand alone statement can be misconstrued. I think the writer was at fault.
If any lesson is to be learned form this it is, say exactly what you mean then proof read it several times.
Parekoy, I think you have scrimped a bit on the proof reading in the past.
All’s well that ends well. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean?

UnixTM says:
August 16, 2015 at 11:26 pm
Gladman, I admire your demeanor in taking that site and looking something constructive about it. There is that but only to a point. That site has no other aim but to disparage, put down and insult.

Next . . .That’s site is purely hate

Next . . .I deleted the site from my browser history.

UniTM addressed the above quotes to: Gladman And Gladman ‘replied’:
“Unix – It’s certainly not chicken soup for the soul and I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. Although this blog is not chicken soup for the soul either”

So, when UnixTM ‘later’ wrote:
“UnixTM says:
August 17, 2015 at 10:28 am
It is time to bring this site down. Who is with me? Raissa, sorry but this is just is not right.” UnixTM is NOT referring Raissa’s “site” but the ‘site’ where Gladman came from etc.

I woke up, I am in the east coast, and got all the posts so been non-stop ducking. hahahahaha. I have multiple screens so I was looking at the racist site while posting at Raissa’s. Big mistake. Anyway, I abandoned the idea as it is tantamount to wasting time no matter how insignificant.

That post was intended for the racist site and not raissarobles.com So let’s take a chill pill everyone as I did hehehehehehe. I must admit the site got the better of me and had a knee jerk reaction when I posted. It is not a good idea and I shouldn’t waste time, although it might not take an ample amount to execute. Besides, I would have not given my real email address if I was going to do it on this one :-)

Beware of Joel Sy Egco. By most of his articles in Manila Times, he is a Binay lapdog just reading his reports on the Binays. For example, “No smoking gun vs. Binay,” “Vice-Ganda supalpal kay Nancy,” “Binay reelected BSP President unopposed,” etc.

I think the Binay camp is injecting intrigue among Roxas, Poe, Vilma and Leni.

Then on the campaign trail their team should be bringing Nintendo Wii consoles and with Super Mario games provided as pre-entertainment to attract young crowds especially of the poor who also wanted to try these famous videogames! This will be a hit together with some celebrities as crowd gatherers!

Whoever energizes the youth will be assured a huge chunk of votes, and they are Captured voters and supporters of those who are successful to convince them that they are advocate for the interest of the youth and their future, for the youth is the future of our nation!

A life size cardboard replica of Mar should be present in all their sorties so the crowd will have the chance to take photos while Mar is still not available and these replicas would be a crowd draw too.

Then there will be weekly draws of the uploaded photos in Roxas official website of these Photos with Mar and the winners are given gift certificates.

Roxas website should solicit recommendation of slogans and one liners for his campaign and reward the great ones. This scheme will draw a lot of netizens on his website and they will be ambassadors of Super MARio!

A lot of different strategies could be launch to target different demographics! But they better start early so they wil, have an early feedback on those winners and cancel the duds!

Provide free raffle tickets to the crowds present in the campaign sorties and intermittently draw tickets for the lucky winners and provide trinkets of items of gift certificates or cash. Copy the winning formula of Willie Revillame, crowd will come in droves!

Super Mar-yo doesn’t suit him even with his meh public persona. and it would be so easy to mock by connecting it with his perceived ineptness in handling, initially, the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Since it is a leisurely Sunday, I will indulge in some wishful thinking. I believe we have here not a failure to communicate but a contrived SMOKE AND MIRRORS so that come September announcement we are meant to be be awed. Evidence — all these media reports doubtless titillated by creative operators: MarPoe, MarVi, MarRo.

By the way the Ghost Month this year is August 14 – September 12. We also have SWS/ PA survey expected to come in September. So Mar-XX will likely come after September 12.

to survive ghost month, wearing red underwear is recommended. those not keen on anything red, can turn their underwear inside out. bit comfortable, butt. the connoisseur though, opt for the classic black, the color that absorbs and neutralizes ill effects. fishes with black scales, black shoes, black lipstick – gross! and the ultra connoisseurs will get themselves night vision goggles to flash out the ghosts.

I dont know, sykes, china is full of feng shui practitioners, but china has more than fair share of disasters. this ghost month alone, sumabog ang factory sa tianjin at marami ang nasalanta. and you know what color the victims are wearing? sorry po. bad joke.

he, he, he, forgot to mention too, classic black absorbs bad luck and bad vibes, after you have worn anything black, you are supposed to shed them and then leave them near the persons you most detest. they’ll get the bad luck and bad vibes you have collected all day. but, if you decide to keep the black garment dahil classic at well made, you can still wear them, just turn them inside out, the seams on the outside. same with the black lipstick, if you speak ill of others like you’re cursing, you’re likely to hit home. if you serve fish with black scales on ghost month, pity the person who eat it. they’ll have indigestion, or choke on fish bones. bad feng shui, bad, bad feng shui.

@moonie
Nabasa ko sa “Full Bloom Feng Shui’s Blog” …..” feng shui can help ease the pain, but not likely that it will magically turn your life around. However, when someone applies Feng Shui, chances are their actions will turn around, thus resulting in the scales tipping favorably.”

On ghost month China devalues the yuan for the second time “that may trigger a fresh round of currency weakening around the emerging world.” (theguardiandotcom)
“A cheaper yuan will help Chinese exports by making them less expensive on overseas markets.” Lalong babaha ng murang Chinese goods dito sa Pinas.

Strategy run ito ng China dahil “Beijing has been lobbying the IMF to include the yuan in its basket of reserve currencies (Special Drawing Rights), which it uses to lend to sovereign borrowers.”

kawawang chinese trojan horse, nobody is letting it in. still out in the cold stranded and attracting ill will. trojan horse would have to be downgraded, year of the sheep ang taong ito, horse would have to stop prancing, keep its head down and to lie low as the sheep. or horse will attract attention of black feng shui practitioner, its life force sucked.

I had and still has strong reservations about Grace Poe. Her words and actions speak volumes of her lack of experience and maturity to survive, much more lead, in the murky waters of Philippine politics. It is now very apparent that the surveys had given her a certain sense of invincibility – almost a sense of entitlement to the presidency. In that sense, she is becoming more and more like the one person she was to supposed to be the opposite of – Binay. Minus of course the corruption and dynasty baggage. And then there is the Chiz factor. She said she is more comfortable working with him, and thus will run only with him. In case she fogets, this is not about her being chummy with someone. Much more is at stake, a country with 100 million people!

I like the fact that Leni Robredo has emerged as a reference point for those who want to measure up Grace. Grace entered our consciousness as the ONLY viable alternative to a Binay presidency. That was what the surveys told us. Then we realized that Binay is not invincible after all – with or without Grace. Leni Robredo’s emergence as another altenative tells us that there is always something better. That the popular is not always the better choice. How many singing contest runner ups who lost the text votes actually became more successful than the champion because they really are better singers? If and when she decides to run as VP, we can at least be sure that it is not because she felt entitled to it, or because the surveys says she will win, but because it is a sacrifice asked of her for the good of the country.

So many thing’s had been said against GRACE POE , but the number 1 question is, WHY BEFORE till THEN, and until Sept. 14 ,those CPMERs – ROXAS minions are waiting GRACE to say YES as VP of MAMAS BOY , INEPT MAR ROXAS?

Re. Grace Poe
Inaction speaks louder than words. GP must surely know that her popularity is diminishing and one main reason for that is her citizenship/residency issues.
She also must know that her popularity will rebound if she clears the air on both of these issues by making public the supporting documentation. To have the documentation available and not make it available for public scrutiny is a no brainer.
So what conclusion must one reach? No supporting documentation is available.
Question. Why are Mar, et al, studiously avoiding these issues? I don’t recall Pnoy, Mar or any of that crowd stating that GP is categorically eligible to run for VP.

The sad truth about Grace Poe is that without the Poe surname, she would have been a nobody in politics. She does not even carry the real Poe DNA, if that is something to bragged about with. And the sadder truth is that people are only considering her for the higher office and rating high in surveys because the current sitting VP has been exposed to be corrupt. As I have always said, Philippine Presidential elections is not always about selecting the best candidate, but rather choosing the lesser evil. I am concerned about the prospects of a Poe presidency. While no corruption allegations have surfaced against her, is she really fit for the job? She only got the MTRCB post because she was the adopted daughter of FPJ. She did not even have a career in the show business to even represent that sector. All she had was an FPJ connection. And as MTRCB Chair, she does not have any significant accomplishment or exposed to crucial decision making. All her office did was review films and catch film piracy operators. And even if she does have one, what is its contribution to the industry or even to the country for that matter that she is now being considered for the highest posts of the land? Her short stint in the Senate is even lackluster. And the saddest truth is that her running for the higher office is being egged on and manipulated by a cunning politician named Chiz Escudero. Among the young Trapo’s of the country, he has a unique reputation of being well connected to the most corrupt VP and Presidents we’ve ever had, Marcos, PGMA, Erap and Binay. He is the son of a former Marcos associate, a former ally in Congress and godson of PGMA, was considered VP by Erap in 2010, and campaigned for Binay in 2010. Come to think of it, Escudero may have a shortcut to the Presidency if he wins the Vice Presidency. If the citizenship issue of Grace Poe drags on and is only eventually decided by the Supreme Court after her “election” to the Presidency, Escudero might even campaign for the removal from office of Grace Poe, should Grace Poe even win. Having seen the body language of Escudero and knowing his reputation in the past, that scenario is not far off. Scary stuffs ahead of us.

Why, even PNoy showed taking this ‘trap’ of Grace Poe’s like ‘mutation.’

Like that once popular Coca-Cola ad . . .’Poe is it ! ‘

No wonder, PNoy and LP including Mar Roxas added more to the ‘D and E’ class that Poe is It !

Just because of FPJ – Fernando Poe, Jr., da King of movies. In movies, mostly many of us feel alive.

I have read similar messages of this kind given by martial_law_baby from others here at CPM. Why Poe?

Who really is Sen. Grace Poe? If we really dig deeper we’ll find some answers which are not only problematical but also makes us hysterical.

For one, the son Brian says “It is destiny. Opportunity.’ A destiny Sen. Poe and this country may be shocked where it will bring us all to it which we don’t like to be found. Playing a risky and dangerous game.

One cannot really plan far too ahead. Why? Because ‘things or events’ may not be what the plans expected to be. One has to have that sixth sense to be able to adopt ready alernatives. This ‘trait’ is in-born to one being, a human being = PERSON.

And the quoted trait by Cong. Leni Robredo shows she has it. Not many have it. It is a gift. A hidden one until prompted to be revealed in due time under certain conditions. She said it at the most proper time now.

Leni Robredo ‘Is it ! . . . for VP. If I and many others are or will be wrong, PNoy, LP and Mar Roxas wrong also for Grace Poe!

Class D voters went to our public schools and probably those who belong to Class E too. So, the govt should at least have done something about educating the children (since 1986) who are now voters.

Unfortunately, our textbooks are old and not correctly updated. We still vote the corrupt politicians and even put Bongbong Marcos in the senate for heaven’s sake. It’s like saying that the 20 years of Marcos rule is okay. If we want to educate our voters then start “em young.

‘old textbooks; not updated.’ A very serious if not critical situation indeed by DEC dept omission.

Yet, the budget for this department is huge compared to others. Tama ka Vhin. We’re the idealists in this. Naka ba-un. Stagnating in education. Not much inspiration. Maybe apathy lurks much so not much improvement.

Education. No wonder many pupils and students do not know much of what happened in this country 20 years ago. And now, as you said it, they are NOW VOTERS. The cycle keeps on.

I have several office mates who will definitely vote for Binay instead of Mar. Their reason is that the guy might be corrupt but at least he gave back to the poor. They are not part of class D and E. We work in an international company. They earned much and can send their children to private schools. They could either be in class B or C the least and they are definitely educated. What does these mean then? It means that corruption is very much rooted in our system that most people take it as normal thus they don’t bother to look for better alternatives. How do we then correct this? I for one would like to know how to convince my office mates.

Tell them, look for a candidate who could give back MORE to the poor. With a corrupt candidate, the poor only get the dregs, the crumbs. When the poor deserve better. Tell them, the only way to lift up the Philippines from its Third World status is if the educated class put leaders who will use the money wisely with the least bit of leakage. We’ve had leakages since our Republic was born. It’s time to plug those leakages. Tell them, they could be earning even much more if more of the poor become middle class because then, the market for products expands immeasurably. Less poor, more middle class, bigger market.

jerry, correct me if I’m wrong, pero, I think, your friends are frontliners ni binay, maybe hardliners too. if binay goes, they’ll lose their perks, status and privileges and may have to live like normal people which must be very horrifying to them. of course, they have to defend binay.

the poor of makati should not just be satisfied with cakes, free movies, free flowers when they can have pizza with cakes, cokes and garlic bread as well, a sack of rice and also money to pay electricity bill. free movies when they could have been working in movies houses, get a decent wage and not just waiting handouts. the disgruntled poor resort to crime and prey on the rich like maybe, your friends, they would have to be mindful of the security of their children for they might be kidnapped, their gizmos, laptops and cell phones stolen, raped, assaulted, bullied and maybe even scammed. they maybe safe in their mansions, but once they go out, that’s another story.

how do we correct your friends mindset? we cannot correct what they dont acknowledge. 1st, they would have to be aware there is problem before they can do something. hard to do if they’re already manhid and used to seeing the suffering of the poor as normal and ought to be perpetuated. them and us. have to keep the poor as they are for who else will look at the rich with admiring eyes, lusting after what the rich got: power and wealth. who else will work for the rich, if not for the poor scrounging? if the poor are educated, they will demand equal pay for equal effort, perks and privileges too. things which the rich maybe unwilling to give, baka bumaba pa ang status nila. god forbid if they have to share wealth too.

I just hope your rich friends are paying the right amount of taxes, so the roads they traveled on can be cemented, the potholes fixed. power stations keep well supplied with electricity or rich friends will experience brown outs which are not very good for business.

Thanks moonie, Leona and raissa for the reply. Not sure if they are frontliners but definitely hard liners coz they live in Makati. One of them actually benefited from the sister cities program of Binay coz her relative from the province got some dole outs for hospital expenses. That would be very hard for them to convince since they are actual recipient on the generosity of the VP. One of them even floats the idea, that what if the VP was corrupt but would like to change ways now and really make good for the people so that is why they are very much willing to give him a shot on the presidency. With this kind of mindset from educated people, I guess the VP will most likely win the race. As for me, no need to convince me. I think the guy is corrupt and I just hope I won’t have to vote for him.

poe, a strong proponent of foi bill, is probably having 2nd thoughts. if foi bill is passed, she could well be the 1st victim and would have to give unadulterated info about herself. people are clamoring for info about her, want to know more about her, but the lady herself is makitid with info, masyadong pihikan at bihirang mamigay, keeping documents to herself.

anyhow, court can subpoena those documents and info she did not want us to seen.

1. “poe, a strong proponent of foi bill, is probably having 2nd thoughts.”

2. “if foi bill is passed, she could well be the 1st victim”

3. and would have to give unadulterated info about herself.”

4. “people are clamoring for info about her, want to know more about her, but the lady herself is makitid with i info, masyadong pihikan at bihirang mamigay, keeping documents to herself.”

5. “anyhow, court can subpoena those documents and info she did not want us to seen”

Every single one of these statements are, at best, conjectures. With no basis put forward, can it not be said that these are mere fabrications? Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but unfounded accusations should not have a place in this highly respected blog.

Best Answer: As I see the Freedom of Information Act, the ADVANTAGES are
–The public is kept knowledgeable about the actions of its government
–The officials in the government are kept honest because what they do can be made public

DISADVANTAGES
The release of certain information could jeopardize international relationships
The release of other information could affect the conduct of negotiations. If tactical information were released it could put our troops in harms’ way. An example is what happened when Wikileaks released internal memos/emails that appeared criticized allies of the US. But, it also taught government officials how they should be communicating properly and effectively (an advantage).

Basically, this act provides for accountability of elected and appointed officials to the public that they serve. This advantage far out-weighs the disadvantages.

On Friday March 22, 2013 in a meeting with journalists at the Flagstaff house, President Mahama made a profound and preeminent declaration when he said “ I have no fear of the right to information bill……….it is not a monster and I think Parliament should pass it.” Indeed Mr. President you should be commended for taking such a stand and I venture to even comment that your stand has historical significance because for the past 10 years, the Right to information bill has been languishing in the halls of parliament and with the parliamentarians in both the Kuffuor and Atta Mills administrations exhibiting no real conviction or courage to pass it.

It is not a monster. But theirs since 2013 was languishing in the halls of Parliament. Ours is languishing in the skulls of our lawmakers.

In the USA, the Americans got it in 1966, how it came about, etc. –

It was President Johnson the American president who when commenting on the passage of the freedom of information act in the US said “nobody should have the possibility to make secret those decisions that can be published.” The Freedom of Information Act was passed in 1966 during the same period of the fight for the civil rights of our extended family who found themselves in America because of slavery. After relentless pressure from citizens and journalists, this groundbreaking legislation was finally passed and not long thereafter it made a triumphant impact during the Watergate affair leading to the resignation of a sitting president – Nixon.

No possibility of one making secrets those decisions that can being published.

Back to the Ghana FOI, the reasons ‘Why’ etc. their country needs FOI law/bill –

This corruption equation basically states that the corruption potential or propensity is formed by three factors which are

a) If the state establishes a monopoly over the sources and use of resources and leaves no room or very little room for competition. If there is an excessive extet of intervention in the economic process. If there are too many permits, licenses, concessions, subsidies etc

b) If the decision making process is highly subjective and leaves decision makers with supreme discretionary powers based on their whims and caprices.

c) Finally if there is low degree of transparency in the decuision making process

Clearly more transparency will reduce the left side of the corruption equation which means a lowering of corruption.

Transparency will reduce corruption on the left side of the equation. . . lowering corruption.

At the time Blair believed that the act would make politics more transparent and help the British people trust politicians and the decisions that they make. Instead the act proved problematic for politicians as the media took it up as an additional means for finding headlines. The expenses scandal that began in 2009 came to light as the direct result of a freedom of information request. [ Blair – Prime Minister ]

Then more FOI results –

“When Blair and his government brought the act through Parliament their aims and objectives were as follows:”

“Objectives:

To make government more transparent
To make government more accountable
To improve decision making
To enable the public to better understand decision making processes
To engage public participation in politics
To endear public trust of the workings of government

UK ramnifications of their FOI –

“One of the unexpected ramifications is the ‘chilling effect’: attempts to undermine the act through less keeping of records from meetings and discussions occurring more often away from official ‘recorded’ procedures. The evidence gathered by the Constitution Unit suggests that this does happen (often at the level of local government) but it is not a large problem. However, Worthy admits that it is actually quite hard to measure such activity.

Less keeping of records. Our FOI should mandate ‘that more records be kept for the purpose.’

Let me explain it this way why the need for urgency in passing these twin laws.

These two laws will innoculate us from tyrants, corrupt, and incompetent elected officials and their minions.

Please note that we will not have another PNoy who is abnormally shook up the status quo and through his trial and error kind of governanance, the stars aligned that we have considerable accomplishment through selective prosecution and justice. But the odds are against us. Politicians are reliable to disappoint us and their promises are usually expected to be broken. Another thing is after they are elected they tend to vacillate on issues, their lpyalty to their constituents are such a sham that they are their own and our worst enemies.

I our current trust in Roxas is high but we should not be fooled for the apresidency is not made of ine man but of a large coalition of different interests which is historically opposed to ours. Mar I can trust but the LP machine is equally be of suspect in about the same alert level as the UNA.

Poe is an enigma and more unreliable than Roxas and expectedly be a puppet.

Binay will not fail us in of our expectations to bring us to middle ages and govern our country solely for the benefit of their family and Filipinos are fed with some morsels of crumbs like dogs waiting for their master’s finishing devouring the flesh and throw him some bones.

The Anti-Dynasty and FOI laws will be potent weapons to hinder impunity andwill provide as early detectors of corruptions and weaponized us with great transparency that the would be tyrants will be afraid of us by aggressively busting their kneecaps that they will think twice before they test our resolve to take them out from their borrowed thrones.

Having these twin laws will favor us of not being afraid that the bobotantes chose the wrong candidates for these twin laws are with us to right the wrongs of the uninforned majority.

So please, pass these laws and we will not be death scared by electing the wrong people for these twin laws will right our wrongs at no time!

I find Senator Osmena to be a most interesting fellow to observe, always thinking, thinking, thinking, in a conniving sort of way that is relentlessly figuring out the answers and more questions at the same time, with profit as the eventual goal. He operates at five levels at the same time, whereas most of us are stuck at two, us and the other person.

Harry Roque, on the other hand, demonstrates the danger associated with starting to live the delusions one speaks, when one is speaking politically instead of truthfully. It’s like his words don’t attach to anything but the reality he is trying to concoct for us. Like calling President Aquino’s SONA speech horrible and VP Binay’s as masterful, the best speech he has ever heard, evidently. He teaches law but received a disbarment complaint for egging Laude’s German boyfriend over Pemberton’s jailhouse fence, so that he could declare him guilty before trial. Some ethical stand that was. And his ulterior motive was to gain political points for defeat of VFA. So he declares his righteousness whilst climbing on the innocent and the dead to win an argument, and what the hell does he care who gets hurt in the meantime, even it be lady Justice herself.

Oddly, Grace Poe seems to be going down a similar path, believing popularity is the same as competence, and using criticism as the lever to stay relevant, rather than build anything. I hope she can find her balance again, her sense of propriety and consideration and grace. Her independence, as it were. Her sense of self that is based on public good rather than Escudero good.

Re Serge Osmena: aside from being intelligent, his political instinct and acumen is probably because — like some, who say of a clan that they are descended from a family of generals-soldiers — he is descended from the Osmena family, who breath politics.

Re Grace Poe: I have lately coined the acronym AOG for her — Anxious Ordinary Grace, from the previous Amazing Grace description, a sad quick evolution.

Re Harry Roque: an apt description which when combined with Raissa’s note of him is rather sad — a lawyer in a hurry but with a character like Binay.

Poe, yes, but I tend to think that she can right her ship if she would just think of the people first and not popularity and politics.

Roque. Interesting way to put it. I’d say he went so fast he passed himself up and left behind the righteous representative of those without representation. Now he mainly represents himself, and a scurrilous man. It is sad.

There have been a couple of Binay supporters arguing on my blog, and it is difficult because it is hard to stick with the issues, and not wonder as to the character of someone who would work the words to defend an apparent criminal and liar. Then they get angry that you question their character. So the conversation goes no where.

I constantly advocate to separate the issue from the person arguing it.

“Poe, yes, but I tend to think that she can right her ship if she would just think of the people first and not popularity and politics.”

I’d like to offer a different view, as follows:
1. Poe is popular because of her adoption of the PEOPLE FIRST agenda of her father, FPJ. (PNoy is no different, don’t you think?).

2. Democracy in essence is all about popularity. Democracy has always been defined as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

3. It is not difficult to insinuate that politics is bad. Nor is it difficult to interpret Poe’s current deeds as politics.
But such is quite far from being a fair and objective assessment. Randy David, in his column today entitled “In defense of politics”, explains these points clearly –

True, and I’ve got to figure out how to make that transition in a way that is not seen as “insulting”, and, of course, be willing to be the subject of the character discussion, as well, from time to time.

@NHerrera
Harry Roque is really a political rookie very much in a hurry – hurry rookie.

I guess it will be a battle of wits between Serge and chiz (imho, serge strategizing for mar and cheeze for grace). Binay will be keeping his fingers crossed hoping the split in votes will favor him.

Leni is a good senatoriable but she is torn between running for a higher office or staying as district representative. She’s worried that if she goes up leaving no strong replacement for her the Villafuertes will make a come back in her district.

tama, there are already enough advisers and strategists in the liberal party. and if serge wants to be taken as one, he would have to stay in line and wait for his turn. hope he is not just there only to be at odds with the others, questioning their decisions, blocking their moves and mudding the water.

I think, serge old man is sexist. the tres marias, why not the holy trinity? leni was right not to pander to him. as for risa honteviros, I also wondered about her scarf, parang si indira gandhi na hindi naman pinoy. I was reminded of isadora duncan tuloy, the dancer died when she was riding in an open sports car, her overly long and flowing scarf napuloput in a tree branch, pulling her backward and strangling her. I would have liked had risa worn a brooch instead of long scarf.

Re. Grace Poe
Inaction speaks louder than words. GP must surely know that her popularity is diminishing and one main reason for that is her citizenship/residency issues.
She also must know that her popularity will rebound if she clears the air on both of these issues by making public the supporting documentation. To have the documentation available and not make it available for public scrutiny is a no brainer.
So what conclusion must one reach? No supporting documentation is available.
Question. Why are Mar, et al, studiously avoiding these issues? I don’t recall Pnoy, Mar or any of that crowd stating that GP is categorically eligible to run for VP.

“I find Senator Osmena to be a most interesting fellow to observe, always thinking, thinking, thinking, in a conniving sort of way that is relentlessly figuring out the answers and more questions at the same time, with profit as the eventual goal.”

Agree. Serge has the intellect and the daring. He was imprisoned by Marcos in 1972 for the “crime” of being the son of Sergio Osmeña, Jr. He bolted prison in 1977 together with his cell mate, Eugenio Lopez Jr. and surfaced in the US later. As a senator Serge is the chairman of the Senate committee on energy although he is married to a member of the Lopez clan which has a stake in Meralco.

According to reports Serge described PNoy as an awful manager when the latter refused to fire Petilla who did not approve Meralco’s proposed rate hike before. In the bidding of Mactan Airport project, Serge attacked Megawide, the highest bidder, which attack favored Filinvest. Incidentally, Filinvest, the second highest bidder, is a favored client of MERALCO. Tomas Osmeña, Serge’s brother and former mayor of Cebu City, is known to be close to Filinvest which entered into joint venture with the Cebu City government then.

Ah, thanks for the background. I noticed his business links when he personally filed suit over the selection of bidder for the Cebu airport reconstruction. Plus his grilling of Alphaland’s Ongpin during the blue ribbon subcommittee meeting was classic. Also dancing with Drilon about the convention center there, in senate hearing. I’m not sure about the ethics of his dual engagement, laws and profits, but he sparks my attention like no other senator,

No Raissa, you haven’t read it fully. The goal is not to bash but to state facts (it may hurt a little) and realize that we need to redirect our efforts toward advocating high-yield investments, primarily on education (IQ test for teachers, cleaning up the curriculum, etc) because that is what changes people. Like I said, no matter how we renovate the house, if the occupants are still the same exact kind of individuals, the house will always be a big mess.

No more. I will have none of it. We know our problems and we are trying to change. We did our revolution in 1986 the way we wanted to do it, with no great help from the Americans. There were a lot of problems afterward. Serious ones. That we are only getting to be aware now. But we are doing something about it.

If Filipinos are corrupt, if there is such a great disparity of wealth now it is also part of America’s fault. America brought in the corrupt and buccaneer brand of democracy here. Recall your Teapot Dome Scandal. America DECIDED TO MERELY COOPT AND WORK WITH THE RICH IN THE ISLANDS instead of imposing a genuine land reform program in the country.

Yes, our agrarian reform problem was exacerbated by the American colonizers. Read our history. So just don’t go gadding about complaining – Filipinos are sooooooooo corrupt. Americans are so much part of the corruption. Who do you think controlled much of the economy before Martial Law, thanks to the onerous conditions imposed by the Americans on the Philippines in exchange for independence.

I have many American friends and relatives. But I do not like a lot of American governments and leaders.

If expats do not like it here in the Philippines, they can go somewhere else and suck an egg.

I agree, Raissa, actually. I don’t hang around much with foreigners myself because of this attitude of superiority and complaint that, in many respects, is blind. I don’t see that it builds much. Plus, I like it here in the Philippines.

There are also some very fine Americans living and/or working in the Philippines, I would add.

I share your view about government and leaders and find it amusing that the non-DE Americans come up with people like Palin and Trump to rally around. Or actually listen to a blowhard racist like Rush Limbaugh.

It is a racist site and I just had to stop reading as I refuse to ruin my day with such non-sense. Like we have unsavory characters in all cultures and all walks of life and all races, so too with EXPATS. It’s mind boggling how one of them expounds on the travails about being with a Filipina and yet stays married to her. Now who is more moronic? Agree with Raissa, not you JoeAM and I wish we have more of you but maybe we do and I just don’t know. Power to the people!

Gladman, I read your response below. Let me tell you that I am not being onion skinned here. I can take Filipino jokes even but that site – Nah! I grew up in the Philippines and I can see some of these also but I don’t need a racist site to tell me what I already know in an insulting manner and not offer anything. All they do is bash. I am done commenting on that :) As for the DDOS attack, it can be done but I will not waste an ounce of energy any longer.

I thought you were referring to my blog. I’m not a racist lol. I actually told them if someone calls them “nationists” instead (because they’re actually correct in denying they’re racists because of a semantic technicality), it’s the same spirit at the core.

But just like a child who would pluck the onion and garlic bits and place them on the side of his plate, you can also do the same with that failph blog. You can pluck the spirit away, eat the food and you’ll grow. I once told them if I was president I would assign a failphblog data miner. The spirit is wrong but there’s a lot of truth-telling that happens there, and useful suggestions too that Filipinos themselves can’t hatch

I linked to the article I wrote for them because that’s where I defined the two words. I actually coined one of them in that article. I was intending for the article, not their blog itself, to define those two words.

For some reasonable reason I’m not hurt by what those expats hurl toward us. What I see are a goldmine of ideas and opportunities for improvement. I defined the problem almost in the same way that they do even before I found their blog, and it wasn’t a coincidence.

In the two-part article I wrote for their blog, I actually told them why they should not hate us. It was all very constructive. That’s the same way I talk here. It’s not to bash. I just define the problem differently. I stick to the truth as much as possible, but sometimes truth is inconvenient and I understand the negative reactions.

Gladman, I admire your demeanor in taking that site and looking something constructive about it. There is that but only to a point. That site has no other aim but to disparage, put down and insult. There can never be a constructive outcome if the criticism is postured to humiliate and demean. That’s site is purely hate and I am not sure countering it with constructive posts will mean anything. It is like trying to explain the value of fairness in the crowd filled with KKK sympathizers. I deleted the site from my browser history. I cannot waste time and energy.

Unix – It’s certainly not chicken soup for the soul and I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. Although this blog is not chicken soup for the soul either, Raissa’s friendliness and light spirit make the transition from reading that blog to reading this blog a world of difference in how anybody with a positive life rhythm feels. It’s quite easy to sense that there’s something wrong with the spirit of that blog.

But if any sincere government official who wants to improve our situation asks me to write a recommended reading list for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to put that blog at the top of the list and even add an asterisk opposite that item with a note that says, “required reading”. I myself don’t plan on bathing in negativity all the days of my life (a philosophy which I mentioned in my ‘How Not To Age Fast in The Philippines’ post), but someone in power has to at least address the issues with an open mind.

Those expats are actually doing what they’re doing “for therapeutic purposes” and I happen to understand why, but incidentally they’re also disparaging, putting down and insulting people “for therapeutic purposes,” which makes the whole thing unpalatable.

On my part, I’m like standing outside that hot and humid ‘factory’ looking at the byproducts of that process, which are the useful ideas. Engineers would be quick to tell you that not all byproducts are waste products, that you should not throw the wood chips away just because they’re wood chips. That’s how I see it.

Ong-Lo – I discovered that fail blog a month or so ago, and I just couldn’t imagine myself living under that kind of intense hatred (it’s so stressful if you can imagine) so I gave them some advice in two lengthy posts. Around the same time I started a blog of my own partly to address their grievances, because they do have a point.

While I don’t agree with their over-generalizations, I also don’t agree with Unix’s suggestion to bring their site down because you’re only going to pour gasoline on the fire if you do that, not to mention you can’t actually bring it down because it’s hosted somewhere else. Let them have their niche and let’s just try to improve, is what I would say.

So, I did went further ‘into re: Netherlands – Dutch (is it?)’. Senseyard mainly says about Filipinos’ thinking ‘outside the box or inside the box’ – that is

The standard is reason. If you can reason correctly, you should be able to reason differently from the way Filipinos do it inside their box.

‘Reason’ . . . implying we Filipinos are without much of it thus: ‘inside the box.

Did Netherlands (Dutch) ‘reason’ in that part of the world – now SOUTH AFRICA, outside the box with regards to the people of that place?

Who created apartheid in South Africa? Outside the box? Netherlands? Let us see what happened when ‘thinking outside the box’ by Netherlands (Dutch). It did go like this as part of that history:

1. Discovery of diamonds in South Africa. – “The discovery of diamonds in these lands around 1900 resulted in an English invasion which sparked the Boer War. Following independence from England, an uneasy power-sharing between the two groups held sway until the 1940’s, when the Afrikaner National Party was able to gain a strong majority. Strategists in the National Party invented apartheid as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system.” Netherlanders discovered DIAMONDS ‘outside the box.’

2. “The apartheid was to maintain white domination while extending racial separation. Starting in the 60’s, a plan of “Grand Apartheid” was executed, emphasizing territorial separation and police repression.’ By the way, ‘apartheid’ is originally meant – ‘Apart from thee’ – became a policy in S.A.

3. Apartheid born in 1948. “Racial discrimination was institutionalized. Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of “white-only” jobs.” That was ‘thinking out of the box.

4. Classifying under apartheid in S.A. “In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white, black (African), or colored (of mixed decent). The coloured category included major subgroups of Indians and Asians. Classification into these categories was based on appearance, social acceptance, and descent. For example, a white person was defined as “in appearance obviously a white person or generally accepted as a white person.” A person could not be considered white if one of his or her parents were non-white.” One can read more to this, thinking outside the box.

I like to stop thinking inside the box. But more of this ‘thinking outside of the box. Let us go further on it to learn more of it.

5. Creation of ‘Homelands’ outside of the box in S.A. “n 1951, the Bantu Authorities Act established a basis for ethnic government in African reserves, known as “homelands.” These homelands were independent states to which each African was assigned by the government according to the record of origin (which was frequently inaccurate). All political rights, including voting, held by an African were restricted to the designated homeland. The idea was that they would be citizens of the homeland, losing their citizenship in South Africa and any right of involvement with the South African Parliament which held complete hegemony over the homelands.”

The natives of South Africa losing their citizenship in it. No rights of involvment with the South African Parliament. One can read more as thinking outside that box!

6. In 1953, creating an Unjust body exercising stringent emergencies under apartheid policy. ” the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act were passed, which empowered the government to declare stringent states of emergency and increased penalties for protesting against or supporting the repeal of a law. The penalties included fines, imprisonment and whippings. In 1960, a large group of blacks in Sharpeville refused to carry their passes; the government declared a state of emergency. The emergency lasted for 156 days, leaving 69 people dead and 187 people wounded. Wielding the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the white regime had no intention of changing the unjust laws of apartheid.”

There was ‘whipping’ outside of the box, so to say, under apartheid in South Africa. The WHITE regime had no intention of changing the UNJUST laws of apatheid. Keeping every black in South Africa ‘inside that box.’

The penalties were severe. Apartheid continued up to 1989. Many were detained ‘inside the box.’ Without a process of hearing. Those who got hearing and tried, were sentenced to death. Or banished. Imprisoned for life like Nelson Mandela.

Apartheid was highly effective ‘inside and outside the thinking of that box.’

Now, if Filipinos were ‘taught’ how to ‘think’ outside of the box to get an IQ of 98% or higher, I or many Filipinos or even the majority, really would wonder what results would be just by ‘THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.’

Many of us Filipinos are thinking. Maybe ‘inside the box’ but we did not inflict any apartheid thinking outside the box to anybody. Did we?

I just prefer to bring this wonderous method of thinking – inside or outside (of a box) as something to really find out (how apartheid was born in South Africa).

But I love Kwarta ‘O Kahon’ thinking. It’s a better fun that ‘thinking outside the box and not inside that box’

netherlander senseyard is just jealous, leona. me and many other pinoys like being and living in our own boxes, made by ourselves and not made in china. we got more fishes in our seas than plain dutch herrings, fresh and not pickled. we got more luscious tropical fruits too. mangoes in holland cost and arm and a leg and not all nerderlanders can afford to buy them.

I run into one of Grace Poe’s commentaries one time that say’s “Maybe we should create an office where foreign film productions can coordinate with, like a one stop shop, so we can encourage them to do more films here.” My comment was, “What??? Is there really a need to create that special kind of office and spend millions for it, so you can put your Mom to head that special kind of office???” So i thought, matino ba sya mag-isip? That’s why, I don’t think she is that qualified for the vice-presidency even!!! She is just popular, period!!! Well, if you compare her to Noli de Castro. . . . what can I say? Lahat talo!!! Joseph Estrada, Noli de Castro, Jojo Binay, why do we even put this people to run our lives??? :(

On Change.org, I created a” Leni Robredo for Vice President 2016″ movement to implore Mar Roxas to get her as his Vice Presidential candidate. If you want to, you can sign in and add your voice to that petition.

Gladman, I am so sad about your perception on Filipinos vis-a-vis the Dutch people.

I don’t think I can find in Holland the place where I live now. The verdant trees and grass. The sea and the river. Laid back lifestyle. In Pinas I can live well in a nipa hut with our tropical climate. No freezing winter and burning summer. Just a cool dry season from December to March and a perspiring wet season from June to September.

Gladman, go live in Holland where 30% of the country is under sea level. Where the highest place in Vlaags is lower than Tagaytay City. Where the Dutch people pride themselves of about two hills and a small mountain. The Dutch people must think out of the box centuries ago for survival. Filipinos survived the Spaniards, Americans and the Japanese without thinking out of the box. We have plenty of sweet potato, cassava, coconut, corn. mango, banana, etc, etc, etc. Especially coconut.

That’s why Filipinos are so clever. And that was according to a Spanish historian Father Pedro Chirino who wrote about the natives sometime in 1624.

rene-ipil, around one and a half years ago, there was an eejit dude from holland who joined rally and was seen badmouthing our policeman, shoved and shouted at poor polis, the picture posted in the internet and went viral. pinoys were angered. naturally, maoist eejit dude was deported back to holland, not allowed to visit our country again.

we’re not just clever, but also beautiful. we have more beauty queens and our bakyas are more imaginative than clogs.

according to fellow commenters a year and a half ago, maoist eejit dude was seen in facebook pictured with joma.

mission impossible, mission not accomplished, that must be eejit dude’s report to joma. then joma tried another tactic, stalked raissa when in europe attending forum. naturally, joma tried all his charms and sat for interview. smiling and being so affable, wants to have say in phillipines politics, wants to be allowed to come home too, all is forgiven. PNoy is not so forgiving though, no welcome mat for joma.

the comolec has 81,896 PCOS machines (procured at a total cost of P9,024,759,196.57 from smartmatic—which remain unrefurbished and unmaintained), i wonder what are they good for now except as junk.

i hope they are not sold as junk between now and election day to other parties who are fronting for smartmatic. why, because these same PCOS machines may go back to smartmatic which will ask its pcos supplier to refurbish them and then passed on to the government as the new rentals. it could also happen that while in storage in government custody, the said pcos machine are secretly refurbished and tested and then passed as the rental pcos machines. buti ho seguro COA better have COA guards at the storage facilities of the government owned 81,896 PCOS machines to ensure no hocus pcos occurs. hula at prediction lang po eto. isang hakahaka

can we not have the students of up, mapua, la salle or other school of good refute reverse engineer a pcos machine and come up with a more durable hardware design and then come up with a program to make it work…do a beta test and iron out the bugs so that it will be ready for mass production in time to use for 2019 election…gawang pinoy, para sa pinoy, at pinondohan ng pinoy. mga state universities, maybe you could have some of your graduate students do this as research project…produce a pcos machine…just a thought.

the contract is to lease 93,977 new voting machines from election technology provider Smartmatic-Total Information Management (TIM) Corp., that is a lot of pcos machines and i hope the manufacturer can supply Smartmatic-TIM all the pcos needed. i wonder who the manufacturer of the pcos machines is and i am curious how much is the cost of the hardware only (without the software).

I think this project that you are referring to should be a private entity driven, meaning that private business should program a technology, test it, put it into a beta test. It’s just like they do in Silicon Valley really. They build, test it in a beta setting and when they find that it’s foolproof and hack proof, they they release it to the public.

So really with the technologies that are sprouting, it shouldn’t be hard, but what is hard is getting a private entity to invest to do this.

It should not only be a government-initiative thing. Government is there to oversee that the industry is strong and guided well, but not really dipping its finger on their innovations.

1.1
parengtony says:
August 15, 2015 at 8:35 am
Will you or Allan write a “what went before” blog relative to the nakakahiya, nakakabwisit, nakadismaya, at nakakasuka situation which the Comelec finds itself in?

I have not been able to closely follow the Smartmatic-computerized election saga but I see the ugly head of impunity in all these.

meron nang gawang Pinoy. unfortunately, the inventors need serious financial backing for it to be viable in next elections. the comelec supposedly offered to test their machines during the recall election in Palawan but they couldn’t step up because they weren’t ready yet.

actually, natawa lang ako dun sa bidding ek-ek ng comelec. i expected it to end in a failed bidding with Smartmatic eventually getting the contract. i was right…hayzt

Kung tungkol naman sa poll-survey, malayo pa naman ang eleksiyon at meron tayong panahon para paghandaan ang mismong eleksiyon basta ang importante, magsimula tayo sa tamang pundasyon.Between today up to election day, we’ll expect a lot of change.Surely, those who are UP will go DOWN and those who are DOWN will go UP. Bottomline is we have to start on the RIGHT FOOTING/foundation.

that and Poe is more popular than Robredo. di mo na kailangang gumastos ng sandamakmak para i-package at ibenta sa masa. plus, as i’ve said before, those who will vote for Poe if she ran for prez will most likely gravitate towards Roxas if she becomes his VP.

the LP members are just realists. though Pinoy voters are increasing their standards, we’re still a long way from achieving political maturity hence money and popularity still counts.

I do concur 100% on your assessment of the capability of Cong. Leni Robredo to become the Vice President of our country. Let’s pray that Presidential candidate Mar Roxas announces that she is the candidate of the Liberal Party. This will scuttle the plans of the independent politicians and tacticians.

Aside from her experience as a Congresswoman and a pro-bono lawyer in Camarines Sur, Cong. Leni has the humility and the charisma to shepherd our country to greater heights with a good Presdient in Mar Roxas.

For those who want Leni Robredo to be the vice presidential candidate, let’s help however we can. If you can, please disseminate to your social media accounts to make it viral.

For those who have not yet signed but is supporting Leni, please sign petition for Mar to get Leni Robredo as his Vice Presidential candidate. We need to have the best leaders in the Executive Department to move this country forward.

Copy paste the link to your browser or just click the link, whichever is appropriate for you, to go to Change dot org to sign the petition, and

The choice facing Sen, Poe is whether she will join in the people’s fight to be free from plunder politics or to yield to the flattering results of surveys. She herself has said that she may not yet be ready for the Presidency and there is nothing wrong if she will prepare for it with six more years. Her decision will show her true self.

she can decide for herself? you nearly got me there, greenpea. she can decide for herself only if escudero who is always within arm’s length of her – will allow her. notice how she seems to be seeking escudero’s approval each time she say something and then glancing over at escudero? if escudero did as flicker his eyes, or twitch his nose, you can be sure the lady changes her tune.

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First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a SocialistThen they came fof the Trade Unionists, and I did not out speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me— And there was no one left to speak for me. —Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)